Page 79 of Destroyer

I don't think anyone could have said anything better.

“Right. Do we have the rings?” The priest moves along.

Caeo hands him the ring, managing to do his part as best man admirably.

“Knox, please place the ring on Porter's finger and repeat after me.”

I take Porter's hand and offer up the small gold band to his finger.

“I give you this ring as a token of my promise, to love, honour and protect you for the rest of my life.”

“You may now kiss one another.”

And boy, do we ever kiss one another. It's not the peck we request, but a slow drawn-out meeting of lips, cascading with passion and tongues.

“Not is it this long with this kissing supposed to?” Nico's nonsense floods my mind and I break from Porter with both of us chuckling.

“I swear I can't take you anywhere,” Caeo groans.

“It's fine, the wedding is over. We just need to sign the registration and we're done.” The priest guides us with a hand to the picnic table set up on the beach. We all sign, as the wedding couple and the witnesses. After thirty minutes, I'm handed the wedding licence with four beautiful signatures. I would praise Nico on how neat his name is if it hadn't taken twenty minutes.

“Let's get back to the yacht for the wedding breakfast,” I instruct.

My new yacht, because my last one was scuttled to destroy evidence. It was a bit drastic; bodies are much smaller and easier to hide, but I was busy with the fallout of my father's sudden death.

This one is twice the size because my boy deserves the best.

He's fine on the yacht, but the motorboat ride to get there always has Porter clinging to my hand.

“This boat is standing still,” Nico observes.

“Of course it is.” My last yacht was drifting in the English Channel when he was on it, this one is moored in the Mediterranean. He also had a concussion before, which really didn't help his sea legs. I'm glad he doesn't have the same issue today; I was dreading the next month if he was seasick.

Our wedding breakfast is a full roast dinner, Nico moans that it isn't breakfast but it's cute. I still think of him as my nephew; Carrie would have adopted him if she'd lived, and my mum has totally taken to him as a grandson, giving up on me ever providing her with grand babies.

Once we've eaten, I stand up, tapping my knife against my wine glass.

“I'd like to make a toast to Porter, the centre of my world. You are the most amazing thing to ever happen to me. And I’d also like to toast Caeo and Nico and thank you both for joining us on our wedding day. It turned out smaller than we first planned, but I have everyone I care about right here.”

“Cheers.” All our glasses clink as they tap together and then we sip.

“I also wanted to do a speech.” Porter stands up slowly. “My whole life changed the day you and Caeo came bursting through my front door. I honestly thought I was going to die. It made me realise how unimportant my life was. You've made me feel important. I may not have much of a purpose in the grand scheme of things, but I do have a purpose. And a dance studio slash undercover doctor's surgery. But I'd still love you without all the icing on top. You're the icing on my cake.”

“And you're the fruit cake I've got wrapped up under the icing and hidden away from the world.” That didn't come out as romantic as I hoped, but I could say anything today and Porter would still be on cloud nine.

“I guess, as the best man, I need to toast you guys.” Caeo stands up as Porter sits back down. “I owe you two everything. I wouldn't have dared to talk to Nico if you hadn't dragged him to your home. Seeing you so happy together gave me the push to seek out my own happiness. Nico did have a part in that, but as with everything he has a part in, people died.”

“Not did I kill the cater man. Really did he slip on his knife and slit his throat for stealing.”

“Thank you, Nico. We know what happened.” I wink at the boy. While he remains my connection to my dead sister, and the cause of my dead father, I'd let him get away with murder. Even if he didn't do it.

“Yeah, so, anyway. I owe you guys everything.” Caeo gives an awkward nod and it's. The glasses chink again and then Nico stands up.

“Not did you tell me there was going to be speaking.”

“I read you the order of service, Nico,” Porter scolds.

“Yes. But when you said prepare for toast after the breakfast that is actually dinner, I expected warm bread after a fry up.” Nico frowns intently. “Nothing about communication makes sense. I thought we called Porter the short name Poe because Porter is too long, not because it is his name letters. P.O.E.”

---